What does a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) provide information about?

A Safety Data Sheet (SDS) provides crucial information about hazardous chemicals, detailing their properties, potential hazards, safe handling procedures, and emergency response measures in the event of an incident. The primary purpose of an SDS is to inform workers and emergency personnel about the risks associated with specific chemicals, which is essential in maintaining a safe working environment, especially in settings like pharmacies and laboratories where the handling of hazardous substances is common.

The information contained in an SDS typically includes identification of the chemical, hazards identification, composition/information on ingredients, first-aid measures, firefighting measures, accidental release measures, handling and storage guidelines, exposure controls/personal protection, stability and reactivity, and toxicological information. This comprehensive resource is vital for ensuring that all personnel understand how to safely work with and respond to hazardous materials they may encounter.

Other options, such as drug interactions, patient information, and dosage guidelines, are not the focus of a Safety Data Sheet. Instead, those topics are typically covered in clinical resources, prescribing information, or pharmacology references, which focus on the therapeutic aspects and patient safety rather than the chemical safety and handling of substances.